Beyond Science Excellence: Using IP and Strategy to Reach Successful Life Science Exits
By Olesia Karvetskaia, Business Development Manager
June 15, 2026
Johanna Bergh, Partner, European Patent Attorney, Authorised Swedish Patent Attorney, Business Area Manager
Strategic partnerships are central to Ventures Accelerated’s approach to supporting growth in the life science sector. In line with this, Ventures Accelerated has entered into a new partnership with AWA Sweden, a leading intellectual property firm.
This collaboration is grounded in a strong alignment of values and objectives. Together with AWA colleagues including Johanna Bergh, Fredrik Rahmn and Niklas Mattsson, Ventures Accelerated looks forward to exploring how the two organisations can jointly support life science companies as trusted partners on their growth journey.
In order to capture this perspective more closely, we interviewed Johanna Bergh, Partner at AWA, about how the role of IP is evolving in life sciences, the key messages from “The End Game” event, and what the new collaboration with Ventures Accelerated aims to achieve.
How has AWA’s role as a growth partner to life science companies evolved ?
Over time, our role has gradually evolved from a traditional external IP firm to a close, long‑term partner supporting life science companies throughout their growth journey.
The life science landscape today includes a growing number of small and mid‑sized companies facing complex strategic decisions; whether to pursue partnerships, develop products independently, raise capital, or prepare for exits. In this environment, IP has become increasingly recognised as a critical business asset, closely linked to commercialisation strategies, value creation, and long‑term profitability.
As a result, our collaboration with clients has become more integrated. We increasingly work as a trusted advisor and an extension of the client’s internal team, often alongside in‑house IP, legal, R&D, and management functions. Rather than standardised deliverables, we focus on understanding each client’s specific needs and tailoring IP strategies that support their commercial and strategic objectives.
We also place strong emphasis on adaptability. Having followed companies through different market conditions, we adjust together as priorities shift – whether that means strengthening portfolios ahead of transactions, refining focus during challenging periods, or scaling IP to support growth. This long‑term, flexible approach reflects the Nordic way of working: pragmatic, collaborative, and grounded in trust, using IP as a practical tool to support sustainable growth over time.
What were the main takeaways from “The End Game – building for a successful exit” ?
A key takeaway from the event was the importance of thinking about the end game early. Investors were very aligned in their view that commercial focus needs to be present from the start, and that IP is a central part of this. IP should be handled early, built with the intended outcome in mind, and seen as an investment rather than a cost.
Another recurring theme was the difference in mindset we often see between Europe and the US. In Europe, there is traditionally a very strong focus on scientific excellence, which is of course a strength. However, several investors pointed out the risk of losing sight of the commercial objective: how the science will ultimately translate into value creation. Successful exits tend to be driven by a clear understanding of how and where the company plans to generate returns, and how IP supports that strategy.
Overall, the message was consistent: deal with IP early, treat it as an investment rather than a cost, and build your IP portfolio with the intended outcome in mind, whether that is partnering, acquisition, or independent growth.
What do you hope to achieve through the collaboration with Ventures Accelerated ?
The collaboration with Ventures Accelerated reflects a shared view of what it means to act as a growth partner in the life science ecosystem. Life science companies today need support that goes beyond individual disciplines. Raising capital and preparing for partnerships or exits requires a clear understanding of the global market, and of how IP supports credibility, valuation, and market access. By combining our strengths, we can provide founders and management teams with more integrated, future‑oriented advice.
By combining our respective strengths, we can offer founders and management teams more integrated and forward‑looking advice.
Through the collaboration, we also gain a deeper understanding of our clients’ strategic priorities and challenges. This allows us to align business strategy, financing considerations, and IP development more effectively. Ultimately, the goal is to create tangible added value for our shared clients – helping them make better decisions, earlier, and supporting sustainable growth over time.
- Johanna Bergh, Partner at AWA